Abstract:

A three-dimensional (3D) wearable electrode set for a human body is
provided. The 3D wearable electrode set comprises an integrative first
ring electrode and an integrative second ring electrode. The integrative
first ring electrode has a conductive layer and a ring basis, and the
integrative second ring electrode also has a conductive layer and a ring
basis. The conductive layers of the integrative first and second ring
electrodes are adopted to cover around the first and second portions of
the human body, respectively. The conductive layers are formed with
conductive material. The ring bases are formed with insulating fabric.

Claims:

1. A three-dimensional (3D) wearable electrode set for a human body,
comprising:an integrative first ring electrode, having a first conductive
layer and a first ring basis, being adopted to cover around a first
portion of the human body, wherein the first conductive layer is formed
with conductive material, the first ring basis is formed with insulating
fabric, and the first conductive layer is attached to the first ring
basis; andan integrative second ring electrode, having a second
conductive layer and a second ring basis, being adopted to cover around a
second portion of the human body, wherein the second conductive layer is
formed with the conductive material, the second ring basis is formed with
the insulating fabric, and the second conductive layer is attached to the
second ring basis;wherein the first conductive layer is electrically
connected to a first terminal of a processor via a first conductive
thread, the second conductive layer is electrically connected to a second
terminal of the processor via a second conductive thread.

2. The 3D wearable electrode set of claim 1, wherein the first conductive
thread and second conductive thread are yarns blended with the conductive
fibers and the insulating fibers.

3. The 3D wearable electrode set of claim 1, wherein the processor
generates a first stimulation current and a second stimulation current,
the first stimulation current is transmitted to the integrative first
ring electrode via the first conductive thread and the first terminal of
the processor, and the second stimulation current is transmitted to the
integrative second ring electrode via the second conductive thread and
the second terminal of the processor.

4. The 3D wearable electrode set of claim 3, wherein the first stimulation
current and the second stimulation current are used for transcutaneous
electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

5. The 3D wearable electrode set of claim 1, wherein the first conductive
layer receives a first electrical impulse generated from the first
portion of the human body and transmits the first electrical impulse to
the first terminal of the processor via the first conductive thread.

6. The 3D wearable electrode set of claim 5, wherein the second conductive
layer receives a second electrical impulse generated from the second
portion of the human body and transmits the second electrical impulse to
the second terminal of the processor via the second conductive thread.

7. The 3D wearable electrode set of claim 6, wherein the first electrical
impulse and the second electrical impulse forms an electromyography (EMG)
signal.

8. The 3D wearable electrode set of claim 6, wherein the first electrical
impulse and the second electrical impulse forms an electrocardiography
(ECG) signal.

9. The 3D wearable electrode set of claim 1, wherein the conductive
material is a fabric woven with conductive fibers and insulating fibers.

10. The 3D wearable electrode set of claim 1, wherein the integrative
first ring electrode and the integrative second ring electrode are made
by elastic material.

11. The 3D wearable electrode set of claim 1, wherein a surface area of
the first conductive layer is less than a surface area of the first ring
basis, and a surface area of the second conductive layer is less than a
surface area of the second ring basis.

12. The 3D wearable electrode set of claim 1, wherein the first conductive
layer substantially has a ring structure, a surface area of the first
conductive layer is equal to a surface area of the first ring basis, the
second conductive layer substantially has the ring structure, and a
surface area of the second conductive layer is equal to a surface area of
the second ring basis.

[0005]In medical domain, it is important to keep tracking patients'
physiological statuses, such as myoelectricity status or cardiac reflex
status. In general, the myoelectricity status is sensed according to
electromyography (EMG) signals, and the cardiac reflex status is sensed
according to electrocardiograph (ECG) signals.

[0006]Typically, the EMG signals or ECG signals are able to be measured
via a plurality of electric adhesive patches adhered on a human body.
More specifically, these electric adhesive patches are adhered on
different portions of the human body to sense the EMG signals or ECG
signals, and are electrically connected to a monitor to analyze the
signals for displaying.

[0007]Furthermore, to be more convenient, the industry integrates these
electric adhesive patches with a garment, such as a T-shirt. In other
words, these electric adhesive patches are adhered on the garment and in
close contact with the skin of the human body, so that for sportsmen,
they can be notified whether the exercises is effective or not by
checking the ECG signals while they are taking exercises.

[0008]However, the electric adhesive patches will lose their adhesive and
cause folder over in such a manner that the physiological signals can not
be measured or are not reliable. In fact, there is a high possibility for
sportsmen that the electric adhesive patches fall off from the garment
during their exercises.

[0009]In view of this, it is important to provide wearable electrodes that
are convenient for use and are not requiring the electric adhesive
patches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010]The primary objective of this invention is to provide a 3D wearable
electrode set for a human body, which comprises an integrative first ring
electrode and an integrative second ring electrode. The integrative first
ring electrode which has a first conductive layer and a first ring basis
is adopted to cover around a first portion of the human body. The
integrative second ring electrode which has a second conductive layer and
a second ring basis is adopted to cover around a second portion of the
human body. The first and second conductive layers are formed with
conductive material, and the first and second ring bases are formed with
insulating fabric. The first conductive layer is attached to the first
ring basis, and the second conductive layer is attached to the second
ring basis. The first conductive layer is electrically connected to a
first terminal of a processor via a first conductive thread, and the
second conductive layer is electrically connected to a second terminal of
the processor via a second conductive thread.

[0011]Accordingly, the 3D wearable electrode set comprising the
integrative first and second ring electrodes do not require electric
adhesive patches to sense the myoelectricity status or the cardiac reflex
status of a human body, and are able to cover around different portions
of the human body which may give a better and more accurate results than
the electric adhesive patches of the prior art.

[0012]The detailed technology and preferred embodiments implemented for
the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs
accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in this field to
well appreciate the features of the claimed invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a preferred embodiment of
the present invention;

[0014]FIGS. 2A-2C are schematic views illustrating the integrative first
and second ring electrodes of the preferred embodiment;

[0015]FIG. 3A is a schematic view illustrating conductive fabric of the
preferred embodiment;

[0016]FIG. 3B is a schematic view illustrating insulating fabric of the
preferred embodiment; and

[0017]FIGS. 4A-4B are schematic views illustrating the integrative first
and second ring electrodes of another preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018]In the following description, this invention will be explained with
reference to embodiments thereof. However, these embodiments are not
intended to limit this invention to any specific environment,
applications or implementations described in these embodiments.
Therefore, description of these embodiments is only for purposes of
illustration rather than to limit the present invention. It should be
appreciated that in the following embodiments and the attached drawings,
the elements not related directly to this invention are omitted from
depiction.

[0019]FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a
garment 1 incorporated with a 3D wearable electrode set of the present
invention. The 3D wearable electrode set comprises an integrative first
ring electrode 11 and an integrative second ring electrode 12. The
integrative first ring electrode 11 and the integrative second ring
electrode 12 may be sewed on the two sleeves of the garment 1. In other
embodiments, the integrative first ring electrode 11 and the integrative
second ring electrode 12 may form with the garment 1 as a piece rather
than an addition of the garment 1. The integrative first ring electrode
11 is electrically connected to a first terminal 15a of a processor 15
via a first conductive thread 13, and the integrative second ring
electrode 12 is electrically connected to a second terminal 15b of the
processor 15 via a second conductive thread 14. In this preferred
embodiment, the first conductive thread 13 and the second conductive
thread 14 are yarns blended with the conductive fibers and the insulating
fibers. It should be noted that the first conductive thread 13 and the
second conductive thread 14 are made by pure conductive fibers,
conductive wires, or conductive inks, the present invention has no
intention to limit the material of the first conductive thread 13 and the
second conductive thread 14 as long as their material are conductive.

[0020]FIGS. 2A-2C are schematic views of the integrative first ring
electrode 11 or the integrative second ring electrode 12 in accordance
with the garment 1 of the preferred embodiment. More specifically, FIG.
2A is a schematic views enlarging the integrative first ring electrode 11
or the integrative second ring electrode 12, FIG. 2B is an exploded view
of different layers of the integrative first ring electrode 11 or the
integrative second ring electrode 12, and FIG. 2C is a cross sectional
view of the integrative first ring electrode 11 or the integrative second
ring electrode 12 in accordance with X-X'.

[0021]The integrative first ring electrode 11 has a first conductive layer
11a and a first ring basis 11b, wherein the first conductive layer 11a is
attached to the first ring basis 11b, and the first conductive layer 11a
is woven with conductive fibers and insulating fibers while the first
ring basis 11b is formed with insulating fabric.

[0022]Similarly, the integrative second ring electrode 12 has the same
structure as the integrative first ring electrode 11. In other words, the
integrative second ring electrode 12 has a second conductive layer 12a
and a second ring basis 12b, wherein the second conductive layer 12a is
attached to the second ring basis 12b, and the second conductive layer
12a is woven with conductive fibers and insulating fibers while the
second ring basis 12b is formed with insulating fabric.

[0023]In this preferred embodiment, the first conductive layer 11a has a
ring structure, and a surface area of that is equal to a surface area of
the first ring basis 11b. The second conductive layer 12a also has the
ring structure, and a surface area of that is equal to a surface area of
the second ring basis 12b.

[0024]In FIG. 2C, the first conductive layer 11a and the first ring basis
11b on the right side of FIG. 2C are refer to a right portion of the
integrative first ring electrode 11 in FIG. 2A. Similarly, the second
conductive layer 12a and the second ring basis 12b on the right side of
FIG. 2C are refer to a right portion of the integrative second ring
electrode 12 in FIG. 2A.

[0025]On the other hand, the first conductive layer 11a and the first ring
basis 11b on the left side of FIG. 2C are refer to a left portion of the
integrative second ring electrode 12 in FIG. 2A, and the second
conductive layer 12a and the second ring basis 12b on the left side of
FIG. 2C are refer to a left portion of the integrative second ring
electrode 12 in FIG. 2A.

[0026]Furthermore, the first conductive layer 11a and the second
conductive layer 12a are woven with conductive fibers 31 and insulating
fibers 32 in such a manner as shown in FIG. 3A, wherein material of the
conductive fibers 31 is metal fibers with electric conductively, such as
stainless steel. In other embodiments, the first conductive layer 11a and
the second conductive layer 12a may be formed with fabric applied
conductive ink or conductive paint.

[0027]On the other hand, the first ring basis 11b and the second ring
basis 12b are woven with a plurality of insulating fibers 32 in such a
manner as shown in FIG. 3B, wherein material of the insulating fibers 31
is conventional fibers without electric conductively, such as cotton
fibers. It should be noted that the first conductive layer 11a and the
second conductive layer 12a can be made by conductive inks, the present
invention has no intention to limit the material of the first conductive
layer 11a and the second conductive layer 12a as long as their material
are conductive.

[0028]Please refer to FIGS. 1˜2C, the 3D wearable electrode set is
for a human body. The integrative first ring electrode 11 and the
integrative second ring electrode 12 are made by elastic material, so
that the integrative first ring electrode 11 and the integrative second
ring electrode 12 are able to slight tight round a first portion (e.g.
the right elbow) and a second portion (e.g. a left elbow) of the human
body respectively.

[0029]Further speaking, the first conductive layer 11a and the second
conductive layer 12a contact with the skin of the first potion and the
second portion of the human body and are electrically connected to the
first terminal 15a and the second terminal 15b of the processor 15 via
the first conductive thread 13 and the second conductive thread 14
respectively. Therefore, the human body may receive some electric
stimulation from the processor 15 via the first conductive layer 11a and
the second conductive layer 12a.

[0030]For example, the 3D wearable electrode set may be for diathermy,
such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). The processor
15 may generate a first simulation current 16 and a second simulation
current 17. The first simulation current 16 is transmitted to the first
conductive layer 11a of the integrative first ring electrode 11 via the
first conductive thread 13, and the second simulation current 17 is
transmitted to the second conductive layer 12a of the integrative second
ring electrode 12 via the second conductive thread 14. According to the
first simulation current 16 and the second simulation current 17 from the
processor 15, the diathermy can be easily achieved by the processor 15,
the integrative first ring electrode 11 and the integrative second ring
electrode 12.

[0031]On the other hand, if the 3D wearable electrode set is for
monitoring the myoelectricity status or the cardiac reflex status of the
human body, the first conductive layer 11a may receive a first electrical
impulse 18 (e.g. one of the EMG signals or one of the ECG signals)
generated from the first portion of the human body, and then the first
electrical impulse 18 is transmitted to the first terminal 15a of the
processor 15 via the first conductive thread 13. Similarly, the second
conductive layer 12a may receive a second electrical impulse 19 (e.g.
another EMG signal or another ECG signal) generated from the second
portion of the human body, and then the second electrical impulse 19 is
transmitted to the second terminal 15b of the processor 15 via the second
conductive thread 14.

[0032]After receiving the first electrical impulse 18 and the second
electrical impulse 19, the processor 15 analyzes the impulses 18, 19 to
retrieve the electromyogram or the electrocardiogram of the human body.
According to the first electrical impulse 18 and the second electrical
impulse 19 from the integrative first ring electrode 11 and the
integrative second ring electrode 12, monitoring of the myoelectricity
status or the cardiac reflex status of the human body can be easily
achieved by the processor 15, the integrative first ring electrode 11 and
the integrative second ring electrode 12. In other embodiments, the
integrative first ring electrode 11 and the integrative second ring
electrode 12 may additionally sense heart beat pulse.

[0033]It should be noted that even though the 3D wearable electrode set
are incorporated with garment 1 in this preferred embodiment as shown in
FIG. 1, the 3D wearable electrode set may incorporated with a long sleeve
sweater, or a sport pant for allow to cover around arms, feet, thigh,
belly or even neck of the body. Furthermore, to obtain a better and more
accurate the myoelectricity status or the cardiac reflex status, the 3D
wearable electrode set must comprises at lest two integrative ring
electrodes to cover around different portions of the human body, people
skilled in this art may rapidly add more integrative ring electrodes
since the structures of integrative ring electrodes are basically the
same. For the cardiac reflex status, it is even desired to place the
integrative ring electrodes across the heart, for example, the
integrative ring electrodes are placed at right elbow and left ankle.

[0034]FIGS. 4A-4B are schematic views of an integrative first ring
electrode 41 or an integrative second ring electrode 42 of another
preferred embodiment. More specifically, FIG. 4A is a schematic view
enlarging the integrative first ring electrode 41 or the integrative
second ring electrode 42, and FIG. 4B is an exploded view of different
layers of the integrative first ring electrode 41 or the integrative
second ring electrode 42. The integrative first ring electrode 41 or the
integrative second ring electrode 42 may combined with the garment 1 of
the prior preferred embodiment, the details are described as above and
therefore will not be mentioned here.

[0035]The integrative first ring electrode 41 has a first conductive layer
41a and a first ring basis 41b, wherein a surface area of the first
conductive layer 41a is less than a surface area of the first ring basis
41b, and the first conductive layer 41a is attached to a part of the
first ring basis 41b. Preferably, the surface area of the first
conductive layer 41a holds a ratio between 20% and 80% of the surface
area of the first ring basis 41b. The first conductive layer 41a is woven
with conductive fibers and insulating fibers while the first ring basis
41b is formed with insulating fabric.

[0036]Similarly, the integrative second ring electrode 42 has the same
structure as the integrative first ring electrode 41. In other words, the
integrative second ring electrode 42 has a second conductive layer 42a
and a second ring basis 42b. A surface area of the second conductive
layer 42a is less than a surface area of the second ring basis 42b, and
the second conductive layer 42a is attached to a part of the second ring
basis 42b. Preferably, a surface area of the second conductive layer 42a
holds a ratio between 20% and 80% of a surface area of the second ring
basis 42b. The second conductive layer 42a is woven with conductive
fibers and insulating fibers while the second ring basis 42b is formed
with insulating fabric.

[0037]Because the surface area of the first conductive layer 41a/the
second conductive layer 42a is less than the surface area of the first
ring basis 41b/the second ring basis 42b, so that a conductive area of
the integrative first ring electrode 41 or the integrative second ring
electrode 42 are discontinuous as shown in FIG. 4A, which is different
from integrative first ring electrode 11 and the integrative second ring
electrode 12 as shown in FIG. 2A.

[0038]The first conductive layer 41a and the second conductive layer 42a
are woven with conductive fibers 31 and insulating fibers 32 in such a
manner as shown in FIG. 3A, wherein material of the conductive fibers 31
is metal fibers with electric conductively, such as stainless steel. The
first ring basis 41b and the second ring basis 42b are woven with a
plurality of insulating fibers 32 in such a manner as shown in FIG. 3B,
wherein material of the insulating fibers 31 is conventional fibers
without electric conductively, such as cotton fibers.

[0039]Similarly, the first conductive layer 41a and the second conductive
layer 42a may contact with the skin of the first potion and the second
portion of the human body and are electrically connected to the first
terminal (not shown) and the second terminal (not shown) of the processor
(not shown) via the first conductive thread (not shown) and the second
conductive thread (not shown) respectively. Therefore, the human body may
receive some electric stimulation from the processor via the first
conductive layers and the second conductive layers. The details for TENS
and monitoring the myoelectricity status or the cardiac reflex status of
the human body applications are already described in the previous
preferred embodiment and therefore will not be mentioned here.

[0040]Accordingly, the 3D wearable electrode set which comprises the
integrative first ring electrode and the integrative first ring electrode
does not require electric adhesive patches, and is able to cover around
different portions of the human body which may give a better and more
accurate results than the electric adhesive patches of the prior art.
Hence, the problem of the prior art is overcome.

[0041]The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical contents
and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this field may proceed
with a variety of modifications and replacements based on the disclosures
and suggestions of the invention as described without departing from the
characteristics thereof. Nevertheless, although such modifications and
replacements are not fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have
substantially been covered in the following claims as appended.